“We had as much fun with old bicycles as I did with cars, and eventually my car collection disappeared,” Paul Kleppert said.

As Kleppert’s interest grew for classic bicycles, he began helping organize the Ann Arbor/Saline bicycle show. He and Anne Kleppert have organized the Ann Arbor/Saline Classic Bicycle Show and Swap Meet for 28 years.

“It’s the largest, oldest, and without a doubt the best classic bike show in the nation,” Kleppert said.

April 27, the bicycle show will take over seven buildings on the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds to showcase classic, vintage and collectible bicycles. This year marks the 34th year of the event in Ann Arbor.

“This show has become an absolute national event,” Kleppert added. “It’s a tremendous family event.”

The bicycle show and swap meet will host more than 275 dealers form across North America. Last year’s show featured more than 8,000 bicycles, including every major bicycle from the last century.

The event includes a bicycle show, where bikes are entered into multiple categories for judging. Public voting competitions, where event goers vote for their favorites, include Best Unrestored, Best Lady’s, Best Motorized Bike, Best Special Custom, Best Early Classic and Best Bike of each decade form 1930 through 1970. The judged Classic Bike of the Year competition features two categories: restored and best preserved.

Returning for its ninth year is the Old School Mini Bike Show and Swap Meet, which will have its own building during the event. It will feature vintage gas-powered classic mini bikes and scooters.

There will also be a rat rod bike show as part of the event, where bikes are designed to resemble hot rods.

“They take bikes and turn them into hot rods. The design, the creativity that these guys and gals come up with is incredible,” Kleppert said.

New this year is the bicycle corral portion of the show. Instead of having an auction like in previous years, the event will feature a corral, where visitors of the bike show can bring bikes to the show and put them in the corral for $10 each. If someone sees the bike and wants to buy it, he or she is able to contact the seller through the event. If the bike doesn’t sell by noon, the corral participant will get $5 back.

Throughout the event, four new collector bikes will be given away, and door prizes will be awarded every half-hour.

Kleppert said the event will happen rain or shine because much of the event takes place inside. He added that the Ann Arbor/Saline bicycle show caused other shows to pop up all over the nation.

“I can’t believe how many shows there are today because of this one. We were the first one. Everybody is really getting into bicycles,” he said.

The Ann Arbor/Saline Classic Bicycle Show and Swap Meet will be at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds April 27 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is $4, and for children younger than 10, admission is free. Parking is also free for the event.